A gallery named Socialism Enriches Huaxi, created to celebrate the 40th anniversary of reform and opening-up, launches in Huaxi village, Jiangyin city, Wuxi, on Dec 20. [Photo/cnr.cn]

A gallery named Socialism Enriches Huaxi, created to celebrate the 40th anniversary of reform and opening-up, launched in Huaxi village, Jiangyin city, Wuxi, on Dec 20.

Covering an area of 2,800 square meters, the gallery is 378 meters long and divided into six exhibition areas, telling the history and stories of Huaxi village over the past 40 years.

With a?total of 545 photographs and 542 objects, it documents Huaxi's economic development and shows how people's lives and culture have changed over time. Digital and interactive movies make the development and achievements more vivid.

Governors from Wuxi and Jiangyin visit the gallery. [Photo/cnr.cn]

Although not China's richest village, with an average per capita income of 90,500 yuan ($13,146), Huaxi is 411 times better off than in 1978 and is now known as China's No 1 village.

Just 57 years ago, Huaxi was a poor village with only 1,764 yuan in assets and debts of 20,000 yuan. Each of its 667 villagers received a daily ration of 250 grams of grain. It wasn't until its chief, Wu Renbao, kick-started local industrial development that the villagers were able to shake off poverty.

Wu Renbao was succeeded by his son, Wu Xie'en, who has put a lot of thought into reform and finding new growth engines, earning himself the nickname "factory-closing chief" for shutting down traditional industries.

"The Socialism Enriches Huaxi gallery is a storehouse of treasured memories, driving forces and development," he said.

The gallery is open to the public and is expected to become an education base for patriotism, practice and rural revitalization training.

A total of 545 photographs and 542 objects document Huaxi’s development during the past 40 years. [Photo/cnr.cn]